Mental health patient jailed 16 years for double stabbing

ITV REPORT

The attack happened at the Bracton Centre on 17 July 2016Photo: ITV news

A patient who stabbed two members of staff at a mental health facility has been jailed for 16-years.

Myha Grant attacked the men at the Bracton Centre in Dartford last summer, where had been receiving treatment for attacking another person in Brixton.

On that same day he also started a fire at the centre which was quickly extinguished.

He also started a fire at the centre which was put out Credit: ITV news

Grant was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on13 February having previously pleaded guilty to two counts of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, one count of arson and the original offence in Brixton of causing grievous bodily harm.

The 31 year old is currently being detained in hospital under the Mental Health Act but will serve the jail term if his condition improves, in addition to a further three years on licence.

The significant sentence he has received reflects what he put his victims through and is in the best interests of all concerned.

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Protesters in King’s Lynn fight against mental health service cuts

Protesters took to the streets of King’s Lynn to voice their anger at what they described as “continuous” cutbacks to mental health services in west Norfolk.

Mental health cuts protest

A protest march against cuts to mental health services and the Fermoy Unit at the QEH took place in King's Lynn town centre. Picture: Matthew Usher.

More than 100 campaigners marched from The Walks through the town centre before finishing outside the Majestic Cinema.

Peter Smith, former parliamentary candidate for south-west Norfolk said: “We are in the fight of our lives here.”

The protest was triggered by the Fermoy Unit, an in-patient NHS facility in Lynn for mental health, which campaigners say faces an uncertain future. The unit was briefly closed to new admissions earlier this month, but reopened last week, albeit with fewer beds.

Mr Smith said: “In my lifetime we have never had to fight like this, but what is the alternative?”

But Debbie White, director of operations for Norfolk at the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, said there were now no plans to axe the Fermoy Unit.

She added: “It is right that mental health services should be valued and funded on the same level as acute health services, and it is understandable people feel passionate about the Fermoy Unit remaining open.”

Labour party activist Jo Rust insisted the issue would not disappear. She said: “They have been talking about closing it for a long time. We will fight and we will not let them do that.”

Beth Anthony, 18 of Dersingham, said: “We are here to protest against the continuous cuts to the mental health service, we think it’s unacceptable. My younger brother suffers from poor mental health and has to travel to London... That is to the detriment of my family because we have to pay for him to go down by train every single month.”